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Message no. 1
From: Wolfchild nathan.olsen@*******.msus.edu
Subject: Big Bag O' Questions(2)
Date: Thu, 8 Jul 1999 18:54:19 -0500 (CDT)
On Thu, 8 Jul 1999, Max Rible wrote:

> Weapon foci wouldn't help you with that. All weapon foci do is add to
> your skill; they don't give you an unusual ability to punch into walls.
> Of course, you could take a physad with Smashing Blow to do the
> Kevin Matchstick trick from Mage: the Hero Discovered v3 of making
> his own handholds...

This brings up more things I was thinking of today. I've already answered
these questions in my own mind, but I'd like to bounce them off the list
anyways.

1) How does the skill benefit of a weapon focus interact with using an
Armed Combat activesofts?

2) On a similar thread, how would a physad/adept's "increase armed combat"
ability interact with the use of activesofts?



Wolfchild - "Discinctaque in otia natus."
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| ,-|/ / ,_\,_/_ silent, and only the moon howls. _\_,/_ \ \|-, |
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Message no. 2
From: Max Rible slothman@*********.org
Subject: Big Bag O' Questions(2)
Date: Thu, 08 Jul 1999 17:11:07 -0700
At 18:54 7/8/99 -0500, Wolfchild wrote:
>This brings up more things I was thinking of today. I've already answered
>these questions in my own mind, but I'd like to bounce them off the list
>anyways.
>
>1) How does the skill benefit of a weapon focus interact with using an
>Armed Combat activesofts?

I would rule that it didn't at all. A weapon focus enhances your
organic skill, and activesofts override organic skill.

>2) On a similar thread, how would a physad/adept's "increase armed combat"
>ability interact with the use of activesofts?

The increase of ability is magical in nature, so when you switch to a
nonmagical basis of skill, you would lose the magical bonus.

Note that the biowear reflex enhancers (whichever the ones are that
add a die to an active skill), and the bonus from enhanced articulation,
*should* stack, since they're an integrated part of your body rather
than a chunk of data you just downloaded into the wires that are
manipulating your muscles.

--
%% Max Rible %%% max@********.com %%% http://www.amurgsval.org/~slothman/ %%
%% "Don't keep all your bats in one belfry." - me %%
Message no. 3
From: Michael & Linda Frankl mlfrankl@*****.msn.com
Subject: Big Bag O' Questions(2)
Date: Thu, 8 Jul 1999 20:25:28 -0400
Wolfchild said:
>1) How does the skill benefit of a weapon focus interact with using an
>Armed Combat activesofts?
>
>2) On a similar thread, how would a physad/adept's "increase armed combat"
>ability interact with the use of activesofts?


Actually I think that in both cases they would be incompatible. The person
would have to use the activesoft solely or their personal combat skill plus
magical enhancements.

;)

Mike, aka Smilin' Jack
****************************************************************************
***********************
“Guns don't kill people -- geez, do you know how many times you have to hit
someone with a gun to kill them?!?”, Smilin' Jack.
****************************************************************************
***********************
Message no. 4
From: Kate . liliths_childe@*******.com
Subject: Big Bag O' Questions(2)
Date: Fri, 09 Jul 1999 01:42:00 GMT
>1) How does the skill benefit of a weapon focus interact with using an
>Armed Combat activesofts?
>
>2) On a similar thread, how would a physad/adept's "increase armed combat"
>ability interact with the use of activesofts?

Other than setting off every 'Munchkin Alert' (tm) scan/alarm
in my gaming pod, I would even want to guess...


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Message no. 5
From: DV8 gyro@********.co.za
Subject: Big Bag O' Questions(2)
Date: Fri, 9 Jul 1999 09:48:36 +0200
-----Original Message-----
From: Kate . <liliths_childe@*******.com>
To: shadowrn@*********.org <shadowrn@*********.org>
Date: 09 July 1999 03:49
Subject: Re: Big Bag O' Questions(2)


>>1) How does the skill benefit of a weapon focus interact with using
an
>>Armed Combat activesofts?
>>
>>2) On a similar thread, how would a physad/adept's "increase armed
combat"
>>ability interact with the use of activesofts?
>
>Other than setting off every 'Munchkin Alert' (tm) scan/alarm
>in my gaming pod, I would even want to guess...

The Adept is going to have to sacrifice Magic to get a chipjack and
good enough Skillwires
to be able to pull this off. Sure he can take Geasa to offset this
loss, but that involves a whole other
kettle of fish

If the player is willing to make that sacrifice.. no problem here.

- - BRUCE <gyro@********.co.za>

<hard@****>
Message no. 6
From: Mongoose m0ng005e@*********.com
Subject: Big Bag O' Questions(2)
Date: Fri, 9 Jul 1999 03:38:50 -0500
:This brings up more things I was thinking of today. I've already answered
:these questions in my own mind, but I'd like to bounce them off the list
:anyways.
:
:1) How does the skill benefit of a weapon focus interact with using an
:Armed Combat activesofts?

Using activesofts replaces your skill. The focus adds to your skill.
Mathamatically, "replace a with b" and "add x to b" means a is
unaffected.
What I'm getting at- skillsoft users get no benefit from a weapon focus,
except maybe the abilty to wack spirits and other INW nasties.

:2) On a similar thread, how would a physad/adept's "increase armed combat"
:ability interact with the use of activesofts?

The power adds addtional dice to the use of a skill. Since use of
Skillsofts means you don't use your skill (you use the chips skill), the two
are not at all compatable, I'd say.

Mongoose
Message no. 7
From: Wolfchild nathan.olsen@*******.msus.edu
Subject: Big Bag O' Questions(2)
Date: Fri, 9 Jul 1999 18:27:15 -0500 (CDT)
On Fri, 9 Jul 1999, Mongoose wrote:

> Using activesofts replaces your skill. The focus adds to your skill.
> Mathamatically, "replace a with b" and "add x to b" means a is
unaffected.
> What I'm getting at- skillsoft users get no benefit from a weapon focus,
> except maybe the abilty to wack spirits and other INW nasties.

That's what I came up with.

> The power adds addtional dice to the use of a skill. Since use of
> Skillsofts means you don't use your skill (you use the chips skill), the two
> are not at all compatable, I'd say.

Again I agree.

How about this one. Say that that Wolverine character with weapon foci
retractable spurs is caught in a situation where he cannot extend the
spurs for whatever reason. Would the foci add to his normal unarmed combat
skill? Again I've decided this for myself but I'm going to bounce it off
the group anyways.



Wolfchild - "Discinctaque in otia natus."
--
_,-/ "Desperanda tibi salva concordia socru." \-,_
,-~ / -Juvenal, Satire 6 \ ~-,
/' | /(_ "Quin tu istanc orationem hinc _)\ | `\
/' / \,_/ .\ veterem atque antiquam amoves?" /. \_,/ \ `\
| | /, ,-' -Plautus, Miles Gloriosus `-, ,\ | |
| | ,-, \ \,?| There are nights when the wolves are |@,/ / ,-, | |
| ,-|/ / ,_\,_/_ silent, and only the moon howls. _\_,/_ \ \|-, |
|/' | __, _) ZOMBIE@****.MANKATO.MSUS.EDU (_ ,__` | `\|
| `;-~_.--~ ZOMBIE@****.MANKATO.MSUS.EDU ~--._~-;' |
\ \__ http://krypton.mankato.msus.edu __/ /
`,-,`` /~zombie/lynx.htm '',-,'
((|))____/~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\____((|))
Message no. 8
From: Lloyd Vance ljvance@*******.edu
Subject: Big Bag O' Questions(2)
Date: Fri, 09 Jul 1999 16:42:20
At 06:27 PM 7/9/99 -0500, you wrote:
>On Fri, 9 Jul 1999, Mongoose wrote:
>
>> Using activesofts replaces your skill. The focus adds to your skill.
>> Mathamatically, "replace a with b" and "add x to b" means a
is unaffected.
>> What I'm getting at- skillsoft users get no benefit from a weapon focus,
>> except maybe the abilty to wack spirits and other INW nasties.
>
>That's what I came up with.
>
>> The power adds addtional dice to the use of a skill. Since use of
>> Skillsofts means you don't use your skill (you use the chips skill), the
two
>> are not at all compatable, I'd say.
>
>Again I agree.
>
>How about this one. Say that that Wolverine character with weapon foci
>retractable spurs is caught in a situation where he cannot extend the
>spurs for whatever reason. Would the foci add to his normal unarmed combat
>skill? Again I've decided this for myself but I'm going to bounce it off
>the group anyways.
>

That would be a big ole NO. Far to many advantages for anyone to posses.

>
>
>Wolfchild - "Discinctaque in otia natus."

The Hamm
aka Lloyd Vance
Message no. 9
From: Mongoose m0ng005e@*********.com
Subject: Big Bag O' Questions(2)
Date: Fri, 9 Jul 1999 20:23:34 -0500
:How about this one. Say that that Wolverine character with weapon foci
:retractable spurs is caught in a situation where he cannot extend the
:spurs for whatever reason. Would the foci add to his normal unarmed combat
:skill? Again I've decided this for myself but I'm going to bounce it off
:the group anyways.

I'd say no. The weapon focus formula is a designed for a specific type
of weapon. When not extended, the spurs are not being used as specified in
the formula design, and thus will not perform as a weapon Focus.
You might as well ask if you can hold an active weapon focus in one hand
and punch somebody with the other hand, and still get the bonus. The answer
to that is "no", by the way- you only get the skill bonus if actually using
the weapon focus to make the attack. This prevents folks from buying a
(relatively cheep) reach zero focus and using it to add dice to attacks made
with their combat ax, and similar nonsense.

Mongoose
Message no. 10
From: Ereskanti@***.com Ereskanti@***.com
Subject: Big Bag O' Questions(2)
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 1999 01:01:50 EDT
In a message dated 7/9/1999 6:28:09 PM US Eastern Standard Time,
nathan.olsen@*******.msus.edu writes:

> How about this one. Say that that Wolverine character with weapon foci
> retractable spurs is caught in a situation where he cannot extend the
> spurs for whatever reason. Would the foci add to his normal unarmed combat
> skill? Again I've decided this for myself but I'm going to bounce it off
> the group anyways.


IMO, no. The "extending" of the spurs would be the activation of intent, and
that means tons to a foci of any kind. As they are not capable of performing
such, then the inability to following through with the complete action
indicates they remain inoperative/unhelpful.

-K
Message no. 11
From: Twist0059@***.com Twist0059@***.com
Subject: Big Bag O' Questions(2)
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 1999 19:06:04 EDT
In a message dated 7/10/99 1:03:17 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
Ereskanti@***.com writes:

> IMO, no. The "extending" of the spurs would be the activation of intent,
and
>
> that means tons to a foci of any kind. As they are not capable of
> performing
> such, then the inability to following through with the complete action
> indicates they remain inoperative/unhelpful.
>
> -K


Okay, what if you a weapon focus replace part of the bone in your forearm or
maybe hand? Could that work as a weapon focus and add the rating to your
skill if you spend like a simple action activating it?

(Going with this idea while thinking of the Harlequin adventure.)



-Twist
Message no. 12
From: Ereskanti@***.com Ereskanti@***.com
Subject: Big Bag O' Questions(2)
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 1999 19:36:21 EDT
In a message dated 7/10/1999 6:08:49 PM US Eastern Standard Time,
Twist0059@***.com writes:

>
> Okay, what if you a weapon focus replace part of the bone in your forearm
or
>
> maybe hand? Could that work as a weapon focus and add the rating to your
> skill if you spend like a simple action activating it?
>
> (Going with this idea while thinking of the Harlequin adventure.)

Again, IMO, no. Making the internal structure perform a different function
(such a bone that would double as a foci) wouldn't work in the manner you are
suggesting. At least, not IMO. However, IF a replacement hand that had some
kind of immediate contact with the target were to be enchanted into a weapon
foci, then it might actually work.

Personally, I'd think this is extreme, as I once had a character that had
such a thing, but over time just felt it wasn't the right "feel" for the game.

-K
Message no. 13
From: Lomion lomion@*********.escnd1.sdca.home.com
Subject: Big Bag O' Questions(2)
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 1999 17:53:21 -0700 (PDT)
On Sat, 10 Jul 1999 Twist0059@***.com wrote:
<snipped>
> maybe hand? Could that work as a weapon focus and add the rating to your
> skill if you spend like a simple action activating it?

More likely the hand, since you would want some sort of contact during
combat. Maybe something looking along the lines of Michael Moorcock's
Eternal Champion..what was his name? I can;t think of it right now, the
one with the hand and the eye. (Not Elric, or Hawkmoon). Corum or
something like that I think.

That hand would scream magic too probably, I can see it now somestreet
shaman directing his fellow gangers to get your hand.

It would probably be cheaper and easier to make some sort of glove/spike
combo, these are an actual weapon as well.

This leads to an interesting idea? What is the state of magical
prosthetics in SR? If a mage were to lose a hand, could a "magic"
replacement be made? Some sort of foci that would function as a regular
hand to a degree maybe with some added bang for the buck?

--Lomion
Message no. 14
From: Rand Ratinac docwagon101@*****.com
Subject: Big Bag O' Questions(2)
Date: Sun, 11 Jul 1999 20:02:56 -0700 (PDT)
> > How about this one. Say that that Wolverine character with weapon
foci retractable spurs is caught in a situation where he cannot extend
the spurs for whatever reason. Would the foci add to his normal unarmed
combat skill? Again I've decided this for myself but I'm going to
bounce it off the group anyways.
>
> IMO, no. The "extending" of the spurs would be the activation of
intent, and that means tons to a foci of any kind. As they are not
capable of performing such, then the inability to following through
with the complete action indicates they remain inoperative/unhelpful.
>
> -K

Look at it this way - if you have a katana weapon focus slung on your
back in its scabbard and you're attacked and you decide to activate the
focus but not draw it (well, assuming you spend the fight with one hand
on the hilt of the sword :) ), it's not going to have any effect on the
combat, is it? You have to be actively using it as a weapon for it to
give you bonus dice.

Same with the spur foci. Unless you ACTUALLY use them, they have no
effect - apart from sitting around, being magical. If they aren't
extended and you hit someone with your bare hand, they don't help you.
For that matter, if they WERE extended and activated, but you slapped
someone instead of hitting him with the spurs, I wouldn't give you the
bonus dice. Not only is the intention of activation important, but the
attention behind the attack is as well. If you don't directly use the
weapon/spurs/whatever, (either in attack or defense) you don't get any bonus.
==Doc'
(aka Mr. Freaky Big, Super-Dynamic Troll of Tomorrow)

.sig Sauer
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